Iran Denies Signing Of Peace Memorandum With US On Sunday, Accuses Trump Administration Of Instability
Iran Denies Signing Of Peace Memorandum With US On Sunday, Accuses Trump Administration Of Instability
Baghaei explained that the document currently under negotiation, referred to as the Islamabad memorandum because of Pakistan’s mediation efforts, is primarily focused on ending the ongoing conflict rather than addressing Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Iran has announced that a memorandum of understanding being negotiated with the United States will not be signed on Sunday as earlier anticipated, while cautioning that Washington’s “instability” makes it difficult to predict when an agreement could eventually be finalised.
The clarification was made by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, who said discussions surrounding the proposed memorandum remain ongoing and could still produce an agreement in the coming days.
Baghaei explained that the document currently under negotiation, referred to as the Islamabad memorandum because of Pakistan’s mediation efforts, is primarily focused on ending the ongoing conflict rather than addressing Tehran’s nuclear programme.
“The Islamabad memorandum, which is being pursued, focuses on ending the war, and at this stage, it has been decided that there will be no discussion about the nuclear issue,” Baghaei said, according to Al Jazeera.
He added that while reports had suggested a breakthrough could occur within 24 hours, no signing ceremony would take place on Sunday.
“We must wait for the exact time of signing the memorandum; although it will not be tomorrow, the possibility that it will happen in the coming days is not ruled out.
“However, due to the other party’s instability, we must be cautious about any statements regarding this process,” he stated.
The latest remarks appear to contradict optimistic projections made by Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, who had earlier indicated that negotiators could conclude the memorandum within a day.
The development comes amid continuing diplomatic efforts involving Islamabad to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington and secure a framework aimed at halting hostilities.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials have continued to stress that any engagement with the United States must strictly adhere to the directives and conditions laid down by the country’s Supreme Leader.
In an interview with Iran’s semi-state Tasnim News Agency, a senior Iranian figure involved in discussions insisted that negotiators must approach talks from a position of strength.
“We must demonstrate our power to them; otherwise, they will not agree to our conditions through these talks,” he said.
“God willing, they will succeed by acting within the framework defined by the supreme leader,” he added.
The uncertainty surrounding the memorandum highlights the fragile nature of the ongoing negotiations, with Tehran signalling that while a deal remains possible, significant caution remains over the President Donald Trump-led US government’s commitment to any future agreement.
